Type setting and distributing machine.



L. ROBERTS'. .ATYPE SETTING AND DIS'lRIBlfITINGf'MACHINE.

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L. ROBERTS. TYPE SETTING ND DISTRIBUTING MAG HINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 11, 1907.

' Patented Sept. l29, 1908.

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L. yROBERTS'. TYPE SETTING AND DISTRIBUTING MAOHINE.

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L. ROBERTS. TYPE SETTING AND DISTRIBUTING MACHINE.

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Patented sept. 29, 1908.

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L. ROBERTS. e TYPE- SETTING AND DISTRIBUTING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 11.1907.

Patented Sept. 29', 1908.

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LUDD ROBERTS, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

TYPE SETTING .AND DISTRIBUTING- MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 29, 1908.

Application filed July 11, 1907. Serial No. 383,169.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUDD ROBERTS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Jackson, county of Jackson, State of Michi an, have inventeda certain new and useful mprovement in Type Setting and Distributing vMachines, and declare the following to be-a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains tomake and use the same, reference bein@ had to the accompanying drawings,which form a part of this 'specification.

This invention relates to type setting and type distributing machines.

It has for its object an improved machine intended to be used forthepurpose of setting type corresponding to keys that are struck by anoperator and automatically distributing the type that have beenso set.

In the drawings z-Figure 1, is a perspective of an assembled machine.Fig. 2, isa rear elevation of that part of the machine which carries thetype forward to the assembling channel after they have been expelledfrom the magazine in which they are stored.

Fig. 3, 1s a cross section of the machine along the lines o o of Fig. 1.Fig. 4, is an elevation of the expelling lever and a cross section ofthe carrier at the front of the machine. Fig. 5, is an 4elevation of therear of the machine showing the distributing carriage. Fig. 6, showspartly in section a mechanism which prevents the type in process ofdistribution from catching in the magazine opening and clogging. Fig. 7,shows the same parts shown in Fig. 6, but in'a dierent position. Fig. 8,shows a loading device used for the purpose of loading the travelingcarriage with type to be distributed.

The setting part of the machine comprises a base 1, in which are pivoteda number of key levers' 2. The key levers equal in number the charactertype which are to be used in the machine with an additional long bar 3,which is used as a spacing key. Each key lever has cooperating with 1t avertical magazine adapted to be filled with type having the face valueof the key lever. The type drop through the magazines by gravity and areexpelled by an oscillating,expelling-lever.

A sin le magazine section, a key lever, and an expe ling lever are shownin Fig. 4. The magazine section consists of a plate provided at itsupper end with a vertical channel which has a Width equal to the lengthof an ordinary type. Along the face of the channel and midway betweenits vertical sides is a rib 21 extending about one-halfthe depth of thechannel and adapted to engage in a nick in the front of the type, (thatis, on that side of p the type which would be toward the operator inhand composing.)

At the extreme top of the channel there are short selector ribs a, b, o,d, in addition to the long main rib just spoken of, which short ribsengage in other nicks in the type, and these short ribs are the means ofselecting the type which the magazine is to contain; each section of themagazine is provided with its own unique set of ribs corresponding vtosimilarly unique grooves or nicks in the front of the type so that witha type machine adapted to set ninety varieties of type, there would beninety differently arranged sets of magazine openings for theirreception. The short selector ribs extend into the magazine only a shortdistance and below the selecting ribs, thegroove or channel isunobstructed except for the long central rib 21. The rib 21 and the sideguides 22 and 23 terminate at the bottom of the magazine, and betweenadj acent magazine standards there is an opening within which is locatedan expelling arm 7 pivotally connected -to the standard by a pivot 8 andconnected to the key 2 by alink9.

The upper end of the expelling arm 7 is provided with a cross head 71,and the upper face of this cross head has atits front, toward the front'of the machine, a depressed portion 72, on which a type droppingthrough Vthe vmagazine' A comes to rest in front of the shoulder 73.Whenever the operator presses kthe finger button on the key lever 2, theresulting movement of the key lever swings theupper end of the expellingarm forward under a table 10 at the front of the machine. The surface ofthe depressed portion 72 is slightly curved, and the type rests upon it,with the front end slightly raised above the extreme front of theexpelling arm; the type assumes this position primarily because of theweight of the column of type which rests on the lowermost type, andwhich forces the rear end of the type down against the surface of thearm, and lifts the front end of the type slightly off from the surfaceof the arm, and as the type is carried forward by the movement of thearm, the type rides over the table 10, While the arm itself travelsforward under the table 10. In its forward travel the type passesbetween pins 18, and the front end of the type is forced into engagementwith the Irnext adjacent hanger and. the type itself is traveling belt11; the traveling belt 11 is driven in continuous travel around sheaves12 and 13, which are themselves driven from any convenient source ofpower by driving wheels 15 and 16, one of which is 'fixed to the shaft17, and the other of which is a loose pulley for use during periods ofinactivity of the machine. The upper run of the traveling belt 11 restsupon and travels over supports 92, which maintain its upper surface inline with the upper surface of the table 10, and closely adjacent to thefront edge of said table in a position to receive and carry forward thetype which are projected from the magazine across the table onto thebelt.

The pins 18 which project from table 10 are located in front of partingplates between the magazines, and are on the edge of the table closelyadjacent to the belt; preferably there is only one pin to two magazines,thus making the space between consecutive pins somewhat more than twiceas great as the depth of a type body when a type is projected across thetable its front end strikes the rapidly moving belt before its rear endleaves the table, the front end begins to travel with the belt, and thepins 18 prevent the rear from moving along the table and cause the aXisof the type to swing from a position at right angles to the belt to aposition that is angular to the axis of the belt, and the forward end ofthe type (which is the nicked or bottom end of the type) leads the rearend, andis properly disposed to be completely ratified by finger 95.

A number of hangers 19 are pivoted to a bar 20 just above the belt 11,their lower surfaces inclining in the direction of motion of the belt,that portion of the lower surface of each of said hangers which is justbelow the pivot being highest, and a sufficient distance above thesurface of the belt to permit a type to pass under it. The edges of thehangers 19 which are toward the magazines are beveled so as to permit ofa type raising them as it is forced under them. The incline under faceof each hanger rests on pins 18. The pin prevents the lower face of thehanger from coming into closer relation with the belt than the thicknessof a thin type and the beveled edge and pin co-acting together make itpossible to force a type of any thickness under the hanger whichthereafter presses on the type to prevent its being rolled over. Eachhanger comprises a pressure member and an arm by which the hanger ispivotally connected to the bar 20. The pressure member of eachl hangeris short and the hangers are placed in a series along the bar 2O withthe pressure member of each hanger engaging under the pivot arm of thenext adj acent hanger. slightly, and as the hanger is lifted itspressure member rises under the arm, and the The type lifts the hangercarried forward under the hanger successively, each one of whichpresents no obstacle to the travel of the type, except its own slightweight or, at most, a part of the weight of two contiguous hangers whenthe type is passing from undei the contiguous one; the

pressure members bear upon the type and prevent it from turning on itsown axis.

In front of the belt 11 is a guide 91 which rises as a flange from beltsup )ort 92, and over the delivery end of the be t projects a finger 93which crowds the type over toward the guard and delivers it into anarrow channel 94, and under a friction driving wheel 28. The wheel 28is of greater perimeter than. the pulley 30 fiom which it is driven by across belt 29, and it consequently travels at a less iate of speed thanthe perimeter speed of the pulley 30, and at a considerable less rate ofspeed than the perimeter speed of the larger wheel 13, or the speed ofthe belt 11. The driving wheel 28 travels at a much slower rate of speedthan the belt 11, and the type as it leaves the belt and passes underthe wheel 28 diminishes its speed of progression and is delivered intothe assembly iace without injury. After passing the driving wheel 28 thetype travels down an incline QS) and drops, nicked end down, into anassembly 90 race 40 in front of the packer 31. 1n the side of theassembly race is a friction spring 32, the end of which 33 bears througha slot in the wall of the assembly iace against the last of the typethat has been dropped into the assembly race, and driven forward by thepacker 31. The packer 31 is reciprocated by a pitinan 34, actuated by acani wheel 35, and the cam wheel itself is driven by a belt 36 from abelt wheel 38, preferably constructed as a part of pulley 12.

Vhen the type are used they are assembled in galleys in the usual forni,and for distribution are first placed in a carriage loading device,shown in F ig. 8; this device somewhat resembles a galley, except thatthe plate 5() upon which the type rest, is movable and carries the typeresting upon it toward the end 52 of the loader.

Through the plate 53, against which the nicked ends of the type engage,is a slot 55 of a size suitable to allow an entire line of type to beforced off from the sliding plate 50 through said slot, or opening inthe plate 53. Against the end 52 of the loader is secured, slidingly, anactuator 54 by means of which a line of type which has been brought infront of the opening 55 may be pushed through said opening 55. The plate53 lies against and in the same plane with one face of the distributingmagazine 6G, so that a lline of type forced through the slot 55 will bereceived into one of the compartments of said magazine. rl`he retractionof the slide 54 actuates a bent lever 56 which carries a pawl 56, andthe pawl engages with a ratchet edge of the sliding plate 50 yand forcesthe sliding plate forward, bringing the type resting upon it uintoengagement with end 52 with a new ine of type under the slide inposition to be driven through the opening 55. At the same time that thebody of the type are pushed forward'in the way just described, thedistributing magazine 66, into which the line of type is to be pushed,is moved forward an equal amount, or a pro er amount by the hand crank57, seen 1n ig. 1. v j

The hand crank 57 turns the shaft 58 `on which are mounted cams 59 whosepurpose will be explained hereinafter, and an eccentric or a crank 60,which actuates a lever 40 pivoted to the pivot pin of a bent lever 61,the lever 4() oscillates between adjusting screws in lugs 41 and 42,which lugs are on an arm of the lever 61; the lever 61 reciprocates rod62 upon which there is mounteda double acting pawl 63 the pawl 63engages the rack 64 connected with the distributing magazine 66, givingto the distributing magazine a step by step movement which alter-` nateswith a magazine mouth clearing opthe pawl 63, continues until the rack64 h as eration hereinafter to be described.

The reciprocating movement of the rod 62, and the consequent actuatingmovement of traveled in one directionto bring a trip 65 or a trip 67secured toward the ends of said rack into engagement with the pawl 63.With the pawl in the position shown, the rack 64 would travel to bringthe trip 67 in contact with a pin44 just above the pivotv 45 of thepawl, and this will lift the disengaged end of the pawl toward the rackand depress the yengaged end of the pawl, drawing it away from the rack.until aweighted arm 68 secured to or forming part of said pawl haspassed the vertical'over the pivot of the pawl and the weighted armcompletes the shifting of the pawl and brings the previously disengagedend into engagement with the rack, and the next reciprocation of the rod62 commences a return movement of the rackand of the traveling magazineto which it is attached. A

The distributing magazine is supported in close relation to the top ofthe type magazines from wheels 46 and 47, which run on a track 48; therack 64 engagesunder a rib 49 which holds the distributing magazine tolace.

Between the successive movements of the distributing magazine the cam 59rotates with its low part in engagement with an anti-friction wheel 80.During the travel period of the magazine, the anti-friction wheel 80 isin contact with the high art of the cam and continues in contact 'orapproximately three-quarters of a revolution of the cam. During the timeof contact between the anti-friction wheel 80 and the highv part of thecam, that is, between the movements of the distributing magazine themouth openings of the type magazine are cleared and kept clear from anyof the type that may have fallen into but not through the mouth opening.The mechanism for producing the result will be understood by anexamination of Figs. 6 and 7.

At the upper part of the magazines are a pair of plates 81 and 82 theseare rovided with short angular fingers 83 an 84 arranged along the upperedges, which may engage between the uprights of the magazines and extendinto'the chambers. At the first part of their engagement in thesechambers the upper surfaces of the fingers 83 and 84 are below theselector ribbed parts of the magazines; subsequently they rise until'theu per surfaces are in a plane with the upper p ane of the magazines,furnishing a smooth evel surface without obstruction to the lowersurface of the distributing magazine. The plates 81 and 82 are pivotedto a vertically sliding pitman member 85, which is normally presseddownward by a spring 86 that engages against an abutment bracket' 87,and against a bracket 88 on the pitman member; the pitman member isitself tubular and within the bore of the tube is a second slidingmember 89, which has pivoted to its up er end a pair of links 90 and 91;these lin s are pivoted to the plates 81 and 82.

The sliding member 89 is normally pressed downward into the member 85 bya spring 92 that bears against the upper end of the sliding member 89and against any suitable abutment near the upper end of the magazinecasing. In order that the device may be without strain, both ends of thecase are provided with similar pitmen, and the plates and slidingmembers 81 and 82 extend continuously from end to end of the magazines.The cams 59 and 59 are symmetrical and operate similar devices at eachend of the machine, except that only one of them carries a crank pin 60.

During the period that the anti-friction wheel 80 is engaging the lowpart of the cam 59, the spring 86 resses the anti-friction wheel and thebrac et on which it is supported, and the entire sliding member 85downward, and the plates 81 and 82 spread, swinging the fingers 83 and83 clear from. contact with any type that may be in position to dropinto the type magazines and any type that may be above its own or propermagazine, drops past the ribbed selector opening into the magazine.Should any type drop partially in, assometimes happens, and attain aposition such that it wou d, if left there, prevent the free movement orobstruct the free movement of the carrier, then the operation of theclearing fingers becomes effective, because before the carrier starts totravel, the cam 59 turns to bring its high art into engagement with theanti-friction wieel 80, and this lifts the sliding member 85 and theplates 81 and 82 close in, inserting` the fingers 83 and 84 under theobstructing type, lift it clear from the mouth of the magazine, forcingit up into the carrier and furnishing an unol structed path for thecarrier. The subsequent downward movement of the sliding member 89spreads the fingers 83 and S4, as hereinbefore described, and leaves thetype free to fall into the magazine.

What I claim is l. The combination of a type magazine provided withvertical channels for type, a type carrying carriage having verticallyarranged channels adapted to register with the channels of saidmagazine, means for producing an intermitting travel of said carriage,means for preventing the type from obstructing the travel of saidcarriage and means for automatically reversing the travel of saidcarriage, substantiallyT as described.

2. In a type setting machine, in combination with a type magazine, alever adapted to expel a single type from said magazine, a table acrosswhich said expelled type travels, a belt adjacent to said table andmovable at an angle with respect to the travel of the type across saidtable, a pin adapted to engage the rear of said type and remain inengagement therewith after the forward end has engaged the belt, apressure plate held from close contact with said belt by said pin, saidpin and plate coacting with said belt to turn said type to bring itsaxis parallel with the line of travel of said belt and prevent it fromrolling on its axis, substantially as described.

3. In a type setting machine, in combination with a type magazine, meansfor expelling type from said magazine, a table over which the typetravels after leaving said magazine, a belt adapted. to receive andcarry forward said type, a pin located in front of said magazine, ahanger located over said belt and extending with an inclined face oversaid pin whereby the said type is adapted to pass under the inclinedpart of said hanger and on to said belt under said hanger, substantiallyas described.

4. In a type setting machine, in combination with a traveling belt, aplurality of hangers each of which is provided with a pressure-memberand a suspension member, the pressure member being adapted to be liftedslightly by a type traveling thereunder and when lifted being adaptedtoengage with the suspension member of an adjacent hanger whereby theunder surface of the several pressure members present no olstruction tothe pressure of the type other than the weight of the hanger inimmediate engagement with the type, substantially as described.

5. ln a type setting machine, in combination with a traveling belt, andmeans for di,- recting a type onto said belt, a passage in continuationof the upper run of said belt, a friction wheel adapted to engage andadvance the type leaving the upper run of said belt, means for producinga peripheral speed of said wheel of less velocity than the speed of saidbelt, whereby the said wheel while advancing the said type acts toreduce its speed of travel, substantially as described.

6. ln a type setting machine, in combination with a traveling belt andmeans for depositing a type on said belt, hangers located over the upperrun of said belt adapted to engage the upper surface of a type travelingthereon, a guide finger located above said belt, a friction drivingmechanism located in a continuation of the upper run of said belt, anassembling channel, a curved track between the friction drivingmechanism and the assembling channel adapted to change the direction ofsaid type and to deposit the type in the assembling channel with itslong axis in a vertical position, a packing arm engaging iii saidchannel and adapted to )ush the assembled type forward, substantially asdescribed.

7. In a type distributing machine, in combination with a magazineprovided with a ribbed inlet opening, a clearing finger adapted to entersaid inlet opening at the sides and below the mouth, and means forlifting said clearing finger, substantially as described.

8. ln a type distributing machine, in combination with a magazine forthe storage of type provided with selective ribs in the npper mouthopening thereinto, clearing Vlingers adapted to close into said mouthbelow the upper opening thereinto, means for closing said fingers towardeach other, and means for lifting said fingers, substantially asdescribed.

9. ln a type setting machine, in combination with a magazine providedwith selective ribs at the month opening thereinto, a distributingcarriage having channels for lines of type, means for producing anintermitting movement of said carriage, means for clearing the mouthopening of said magazine during the intervals between movements of saidcarriage, substantially as described.

l0. ln a type distributing machine, in combination with a magazine forthe reception of type, a carriage for type to be distributed, means forclearing the mouth opening into said magazine, means for automaticallymoving said carriage in alternation with the movement of the clearingmeans, substantially as described.

l1. ln a type distributing machine, in combination with a type carryingcarriage, a loading device provided with means for ,3- pelling a line oftype therefrom into a channel of said carriage, means for advancing aFII 10 type, a slidable expelling p ate adapted to reciprocate inregister with said aperture, means actuated by said reciprocating platefor actuating the sliding plate, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I sign this speciiil5 cation in the presence oftWo Witnesses.

LUDD ROBERTS. Witnesses MAY E. Korir, CHARLES F. BURTON.

